Getting Started with Proposal Submission at UM
At the University of Montana, the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) Pre-award Team is here to support faculty in navigating the proposal development and submission process. We collaborate closely with Principal Investigators (PIs) to ensure proposals meet both sponsor and university requirements. To help things go smoothly, please review the following information and plan ahead—early coordination is key to a successful submission.
The OSP Pre-Award Team begins working on your proposal using the Cayuse Grants Management System. You can find detailed guidance and database access in the Cayuse Grants Instructions. To log in to Cayuse, you must have a NetID established through Human Resources.
PI’s should prepare their budgets using the University of Montana’s official UM Budget Template, which includes embedded formulas to support financial compliance and help estimate project costs consistently and accurately.
A Proposal Development Analyst will partner with the PI to finalize the budget and budget justification. Please provide the completed budget, budget justification, and a scope of work to your Proposal Development Analyst at least five business days prior to the sponsor deadline.
It is the PI’s responsibility to carefully review the sponsor’s solicitation, including requirements related to page limits, formatting, and necessary attachments.
If your proposal involves cost share (see UM’s Cost Share Policy), subawards, or letters of commitment from collaborators, those elements often require additional time. We recommend beginning those conversations as early as possible.
Please note: UM faculty and staff are not authorized to submit proposals directly to external funding agencies. All submissions must be reviewed and submitted by OSP. Proposals submitted without OSP review may not be accepted by the University or may require rebudgeting before they can be accepted by the University.